South American Mercenaries in the Sudanese Conflict Reportedly Recruited by British-Based Firms

Tucked away close to a shiny soccer ground of Tottenham Hotspur in London lies a plain, unremarkable apartment building. Beyond its ordinary facade lies a grim reality: a small second-floor apartment connected to murderous atrocities unfolding a vast distance to the south.

According to UK government records, this one-bedroom flat in north London is connected to a international network of companies implicated in the mass recruitment of fighters to fight in the African nation alongside paramilitaries accused of numerous war crimes and ethnic cleansing.

Scores of Ex- Colombian Military Enlisted

Hundreds of ex-soldiers from Colombia have been recruited to serve with Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a armed faction responsible for mass rapes, targeted killings, and the widespread murder of civilians.

Colombian mercenaries were directly involved in the RSF's capture of the western Sudanese city of El Fasher in recent months, which triggered a wave of violence that experts believe has claimed at least 60,000 lives.

As reports of atrocities mount, connections have been identified between the fighters contracted to overrun El Fasher and locations in the UK capital.

UK Address Connected to Censured Firm

The apartment in north London is registered to a corporation called Zeuz Global, established by two individuals identified and penalized last week by the US treasury for hiring Colombian mercenaries to combat for the RSF.

Both individuals – citizens of Colombia in their 50s – are listed in records at the UK company registry as living in Britain.

The company remains operational. The following day the US treasury announced sanctions on those running the recruitment network, Zeuz Global suddenly relocated its official location to the centre of central London. Its new postcode corresponds to one luxury accommodation in Covent Garden.

The establishments in question stated they had no link to Zeuz Global and had no idea why the firm had listed their addresses.

"It is of serious worry that the primary figures the US government claims are orchestrating this fighter recruitment have been able to set up a UK company based from a apartment in north London," stated an expert, a analyst and former member of a UN panel on Sudan.

Concerns Voiced Over UK Company Checks

Analysts say the saga raises questions over how individuals openly censured by the US for "fueling the civil war in Sudan" were able to apparently set up and run a firm in the UK capital.

The UK's top diplomat has condemned the RSF for "organized murder, torture and assault" following the faction's seizure of El Fasher. The RSF has been charged by the US with genocide.

When questioned about the company, Companies House did not comment on whether it had awareness of the firm’s operations or verify the residency status of the penalized people.

Reaching out to Zeuz proved fruitless; its online site, created in May, was marked as "under construction" with no contact details.

Network Led by Former Soldier

Per the American authorities, the figure at the centre of the Colombian recruiting network for the RSF is a citizen of two countries and former army officer located in the Gulf state.

The US alleges this individual of playing a central role in recruiting ex-military personnel to be sent to Sudan using a Colombian employment agency. His spouse was also sanctioned for running the firm.

Another individual with two citizenships was also sanctioned for overseeing a company alleged of processing money and payroll for the network employing the mercenaries.

"During 2024 and 2025, US-based firms linked with this individual engaged in numerous wire transfers, totalling millions of US dollars," the US treasury statement said.

Company Registration and Intensifying Conflict

In April of the current year, the penalized figures set up a company in north London named ODP8 Ltd – later re-branded Zeuz Global.

Three days later, the RSF attacked the Zamzam camp for displaced people, killing over 1,500 civilians. After its capture, the site was transferred to the hired fighters, who began planning for attacking El Fasher.

The sanctioned individuals are listed in Companies House records as owning "initial shareholdings" in the firm, with one named as a person of "significant control".

Both describe the UK as their "country of residence".

Impact on the Conflict and Wider Issues

The hiring of the Colombians has had a significant effect on the course of the conflict, analysts say. These fighters have allegedly trained children to be soldiers, as well as serving as snipers, foot soldiers, trainers, and pilots for unmanned aircraft.

These aircraft proved instrumental in the capture of El Fasher and during fighting in other regions.

"The war in Sudan is a hi-tech one, with precision munitions and long-range drones causing regular fatalities," said the analyst. "These weapons require external help to operate. We know that the Colombian mercenary operation has been a significant part of this outside support."

He noted that the participation of penalized persons in a UK company highlighted broader concerns over the lack of rigorous checks when companies are established.

"Having a UK company like this is a license for bad actors to do deals with legitimate counterparts. It's still harder to join a fitness centre in most cases than to establish a UK company," he said.

Government Response and Continuing Claims

A UK official stated that the recent introduction of "compulsory ID checks" for corporate officers would provide greater assurance about who was setting up and running UK firms.

The Colombians’ involvement in Sudan first came to light last year, leading to an apology from the South American nation's government.

One of the mercenaries recently confirmed that he had instructed minors in Sudan and seen combat in El Fasher.

The United Arab Emirates, repeatedly alleged of supplying weapons to the RSF, has also been connected to the recruitment of Colombian mercenaries. A investigation alleged that UAE nationals providing Colombians to the RSF were connected to a high-ranking Emirati figure. The UAE has repeatedly rejected these claims.

A British government spokesperson said: "The UK is calling for an immediate end to violence, the protection of civilians, and the removal of obstacles to aid delivery."

They noted that the UK had also sanctioned RSF commanders for their part in the atrocities in El Fasher.